Goldschmidt Premiers Wines at Bentley’s

by Frank Mangio
I love a quality steakhouse. Once through the front door, the décor, the courteous service, the white table cloths on the rich walnut tables, the worldly red wines and steaks on the menu all promise a memorable dining experience.

Bentley’s Steak and Chop House in Encinitas adds one more savory essential for the success story that it is: unbeatable VALUE!
I first learned of this dining oasis when I attended a premium winemaker event to present Nick Goldschmidt and his Goldschmidt, Boulder Bank and Forefathers line of fine wines. Goldschmidt is a globe-trotting, non-stop wine impresario. He led wine production and marketing for world class producers in 8 countries over 20 years including New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile and now in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma in California. He has a PHD in Horticulture and sources his own grapes.

Nick Goldschmidt,left, world-class winemaker and wine new product developer shares a table at Bentley’s in Encinitas with Charlie Plummer of Hess Collection Wines.

Under his name brand, Goldschmidt offers a wide range of labels and varietals including: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz and several blend offerings. All wines are single vineyard, single appellation and single vintage. What stood out for me was his 2006 Vborny Vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet. The vineyard sits on a knoll just East of Geyserville. This provides excellent exposure for the grapes and allows a long hang time. The cab possesses rich, concentrated flavors, a signature for the skills of Nick Goldschmidt and his most important accomplishment.

Bentley’s has been offering this kind of quality both in their wines and menu items. It’s a product of some 40 years of experience that the owners have in the steak restaurant business. Dave Reese, the General Manager since the day Bentley’s opened in June of 2008, grew up on a 2,000 acre cattle ranch and gets to the heart of Bentleys when he says “we all share the same vision that everything must be of the highest value. We hand cut our USDA prime center cut Filet Mignon. Our presentations must be a perfect fit for the diner and over-deliver on quality. When I select wines for the menu, I refuse to know the price. If I feel it’s a worthy wine then it must come under our price estimates, so we can pass it on to the customer.”
Passing value on to the customer has kept Bentley’s increasing its popularity, even as the restaurant business is hanging on nationwide decreasing numbers and even tougher spending numbers in restaurants and bars, down over 3% last year.

At Bentley’s you can enjoy a “Super Sunday” full dinner of your choice of center cut Filet Mignon, Salmon or Prime Rib including hot bread and a side dish for $15. “Surf and Turf” Mondays are equally generous with a choice of Whiskey Peppercorn Flatiron Steak, Filet Mignon or Prime Top Sirloin for $15. Add $10. more for a “Surf” choice of Lobster, Shrimp Scampi or King Crab Legs. Reservations are suggested for this super popular value combination by calling 760-632-9333.

This same team that owns Bentley’s has operated Carver’s Steak and Chops in Rancho Bernardo. Check for almost-daily wine specials in the bar and dining room, like ½ price wines and free corkage for your bottle. When I last checked, Bentley’s was running a premium bottle of wine with dinner for just $15.

Bentley’s is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday and dinner Monday through Sunday at 5pm. Cocktail hour is Monday through Friday 2 to 6:30pm. For the full menu and wine list go to www.bentleyssteak.com. For more on Nick Goldschmidt, access www.goldschmidtvineyards.com.


Wine Bytes

The Crossings Golf Course Country Club in Carlsbad is hosting a Monte Carlo Night Fri. March 6 from 6:30 to 9:30pm to benefit Friends of Aviara Schools. Enjoy wine and other libation tastings, appetizers, Vegas style gaming, and raffle drawings. Cost is $85. pp. RSVP at 760-602-9727.

Become a Certified Specialist of Wine with classes by Charrie Foglio, Wine Instructor for the San Diego Culinary Institute. First classes start Mon. March 8, 6:30 to 9:30pm at San Diego Wine Storage. For details contact 619-244-4224 or email sommelierguild@cs.com.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, Wed. March 10, 5:30 to 7:30pm, welcomes Rupert Symington of Symington Family Estates with great Portuguese wines including ports. Cost is $20. in advance. Call 760-745-1200.

La Costa Wine Company offers “The Truth About Wine & Cheese,” Sat. March 13 from 3 to 5pm. Learn about textures, aroma and flavors. Four artisan cheeses and 5 wines will be tasted. Public cost is $40. WC members $36. Couples $68. Call 760-431-8455.

The 2nd Annual Rhythm & Vine, a Music Food and Wine Festival in Escondido’s North County Fair Mall off I-15, will be held Sat. April 17 starting at 6pm, to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Diego County. Over 60 award-winning wineries and 35 top chefs from gourmet restaurants will be on hand, including 3 live concerts, all for the general admission price of $75. in advance, $100. at the door. A VIP package is available for $125. in advance, $150. at the door. Silent auction. Applications are still being accepted for wineries, breweries, spirits and restaurants. Space is free with a donation to the event’s silent auction. Ticket information at 858-578-9463, or go to www.rhythmandvine.org.

Wine and Olive Oil Tasting in Old Town Temecula

Wine for a Worthy Cause!

Splash will be hosting another great benefit this Sunday, February 28th from 4pm - 9pm. 10% of proceeds from the night will go to Mama's Kitchen. Specials all night and drawings for great prizes every hour with all proceeds going directly to Mama's Kitchen! Come help a great cause!

The World of Wine Event in Temecula

by Frank Mangio
Perception is a powerful influence on opinion and takes time, patience and evidence to change. In the wine world, this dynamic is stubborn and takes a strong and persistent communications effort for success.

For the past five years I have observed, researched and reported on the progress of Temecula Wine Country to convince the wine world that it deserves recognition as a quality wine making appellation that can produce fine wines, with grape varietals from anywhere in the world.

Another opportunity to steer public perception is at hand for Temecula Wine Country when the World of Wine 2010 is presented Saturday and Sunday March 6 and 7 from 10am to 4:30pm, with 25 Temecula wineries participating. The theme aims to show how these wineries can take old world varietals, barrel or bottle-ready and full of flavor, and showcase a tasting experience as good as any available. The wines are part of a self-guided tour, perfectly paired with gourmet food samplings. Ticket holders will receive a map of the Valley, a passport which allows access to the wineries and a souvenir glass.

The World of Wine comes to Temecula March 6 & 7. Rhone Valley wines from Thornton Winery are shown being poured.

Two names to know who have recently done well are: Callaway Vineyards &Winery and Briar Rose Winery. Callaway, with 40 years of winemaking, recently received a Gold Medal at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Competition for its 2008 Winemaker’s Reserve Late Harvest Cabernet, and a Double Gold Medal at the 2010 Florida State Fair Competition for its 2009 Special Selection Rose of Sangiovese.

“Taste the Enchantment” is the theme of Briar Rose Winery, operated by Les and Dorian Linkogle. Small lot, limited production, lush intense flavors have placed Briar Rose in a prestigious place in Southern California’s wine roll call of celebrity-style winemaking. Their new release Estate Collection 2007 Cabernet is worth looking for when the World of Wine Event comes around March 6 & 7. For more information including ticket orders, go to www.temeculawines.org.


Corks Popping at VINZ Lounge and Wine Bar
If you build it, they will come. Customers are filling up the lounge and wine bar that Vinnie Griffin recently built on Grand in Downtown Escondido. The vibes are happy and exciting as the music, food and wine fills the place with energy.

Vinnie works with several Central Coast wineries and has close relationships with the likes of Eberle and Cambria. The food packs the menu with a huge variety of choices. “Everything is homemade including the sauces and salad dressings,” he said.

Impresario Vinnie Griffin with a magnum of Cambria Cab at his VINZ Lounge and Wine Bar in Escondido.

“From Tapas to Lasagna to Beef Wellington, I cook my own creations. There’s something for everyone, and you can dine in our entertainment lounge or a quieter more intimate room.” The musicians and stage are close and personal. Jimmy Patton was jamming on a flemenco guitar with a latin samba duo that made for fun listening and dancing. Vinnie is already master-planning a European style outdoor garden with artisan Italian Pizzas to add to his German deli offerings. New wines are being introduced weekly with wine flights to pair with special menu items.

I had an Eberle ’07 Cotes-du-Robles blend of Granache, Mouvrede and Syrah, beautifully crafted by the pioneer winery in Paso Robles.

Vinnie is a well known veteran restaurateur in Escondido and his new wine bar and lounge raises the bar for fine food, wine and a fun time. Reservations for the dinner lounge on weekends are recommended by calling 760-743-VINO ( 8466).

Wine Bytes
§ Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas will be spotlighting Rhone Wines at their weekly wine tasting on Fri. Feb. 26 from 6 to 8pm. Check for pricing at 760-479-2500.

§ A Laguna Beach Winery Bus Tour is being planned for Sat. Feb. 27 from 9am to 6pm. Bus boarding at Del Sur Ranch House. Tour will include: Oaks Ranch and Laguna Canyon Wineries. Fee is $65. ea. Details at 858-759-2779.

§ The Pacific Coast Wine Festival is Sat. March 6 from 5pm at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. This posh affair includes a sumptuous dinner, premium wine tastings, sommeliers and both a live and silent auction. Tickets are $250. pp. To purchase tickets or a table, contact 714-876-2364.

§ California Reds are the tasting theme for San Diego Wine Company’s next event on Sat. Feb. 27 from 11 to 4:30pm. $10. fee. Call 858-586-9463.

Wine Courses Offered in San Diego

Laguna Beach Wineries Bus Tour

By Janene Roberts

There's a fun event coming up February 27, a Saturday. I'm the coordinator of my homeowner association wine club and thought you might be interested in joining us for this event.

Laguna Beach Winery Bus Tour $65
February 27, 2010 (Sat)
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

LOCATION:
Board the Bus at the Del Sur Ranch House
15455 Paseo Del Sur
San Diego, CA 92127
ph. 858-759-2779

This fun day long trip will begin outside of the Del Sur Ranch House located at 15455 Paseo Del Sur, San Diego, CA 92127 at 9 a.m. where we will board the bus. The day will include visiting Hamilton Oaks Winery, Laguna Canyon Winery and lunch near the water. Price includes bus ride, wine tastings and water and snacks on the bus. Bring money for lunch. $65. Send a check made payable to Popcorn Press & Media, PO Box 3375, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. Checks must be received by February 15th in order to secure your spot. A minimum of 25 people need to sign up in order for event to happen. Want to use a credit card? Go to www.popcornpressmedia.com under the Wine Tasting tab and there is a pay pal link there. Looking forward to having you on the bus with us. The event is part of the Del Sur Homeowners Wine Club. Meet new, fun people.

Howell Mountain: Where it’s at in Napa Valley

by Frank Mangio
Millions of wine lovers, touristy types and California back-country drivers are driven to explore a revered 44,000 acres of wineries ands vineyards known as the Napa Valley . It makes only 4% of the wines in California , but produces 20% of wine sales in this state. Its reputation really took off when Robert Mondavi established his Robert Mondavi Winery. The rich tastes and ripe tannins of the signature Cabernet Sauvignon resemble the Bordeaux wine making area of France , and has demonstrated and was judged, to be superior to the French version.

Highway 29, which cuts through the Valley and routes the traveler to some 400 wineries and 700 grape growers, is a miniature Interstate 5 with traffic woes increasing to the boiling point.

Those in the know have known for some time that the Silverado Trail, which parallels Highway 29 to the east, is a more beautiful, pristine route that takes the traveler to some of the best brands in Napa Valley . Its crown jewel is Howell Mountain , a gentle, rural incline which begins at the 1,400 foot level. It also happens to be the fog-line boundary. Any grapes grown above that level are subject to sunnier days and cooler nights, the holy grail for excellence in wines. The soil is rockier and porous allowing for drainage of the heavier rainfall that they experience. The bottom line is a rich complexity and flavor.
The view from Viader, one of the wineries at the base of Howell Mt. It makes superb examples of Cabernet & Cab Franc.

The Howell Mountain appellation was the first to be recognized as a distinct growing region within the Napa Valley . The family style wineries often have small, hard-to-obtain quantities and are respected for their Cabs and Zins.

The Howell Mountain Wine Tasting for the public and the trade is traveling to Los Angeles and the Peterson Auto Museum on Wilshire Boulevard Monday March 15 from 2 to 6pm . More than 25 select wineries will be pouring. It will be a rare occasion.

Some names to know include: Cakebread, Atlas Peak , Beringer, Duckhorn, O’Shaugnessy, Robert Foley and many more. Tickets for the public are $45. each and can be processed at www.howellmountain.org. Public hours are 4 to 6pm . The info line is: 707-965-2665.

La Costa Wine Company Ramps Up Events
Kris Garrett is a man on a mission. He purchased the former Wine Street in Carlsbad not too long ago from Tanya Kinberg, a popular wine entrepreneur, and proceeded to move into the down economy with an added value and special event mentality.

The name was changed to La Costa Wine Company and the interior was re-modeled into a clean, upscale style that made wines easier to find. An imported cheese section was added to compliment the increase in events at the comfortable bistro style, marble bar. Tanya’s unsurpassed experience in the Napa Valley was enlisted for key “A-List” selections from small producers.
La Costa Wine Company owner Kris Garrett pours Italian wines at a recent tasting event.

The biggest, most exciting news yet is just around the corner on the calendar as Kris and his North County Wine Company host the two legendary wineries in Paso Robles wine growing history: Justin Winery on Friday February 26 from 5 to 8pm and the man that put the appellation on the map, Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery, on Thursday March 4 from 5 to 8pm with a charge of $20.

Eberle is considered to be the pioneer in the making of fine wine in Paso Robles Wine Country with over 30 years of production. His winery tastings are still complimentary, including cave tours. Learn more at www.eberlewinery.com.

At the Justin tasting, wines include: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Savant, Justification, Tempranillo and Obtuse. Fee is $30. Their site is www.justinwine.com. For more on La Costa Wine Company, access www.lacostawineco.com or call 760-431-8455.

Wine Bytes
Firefly Grill and Wine Bar in Encinitas is hosting an Amglin Winemaker Dinner Thurs. Feb. 25, 6:30pm . Cost is $75. ea. Amglin of Paso Robles focuses on the Rhone Varietals and will be pouring Viognier, Pinot Noir, a Rhone blend and a Syrah. To RSVP call 760-635-1066.

Cicciotti’s Trattoria in Cardiff is staging a benefit Opera Concert Thurs. Feb. 25 at 7pm and 9pm . Entrance fee $20. Two internationally known tenors will sing. Gaetano Cicciotti, the owner, has a new cookbook out featuring Italian food specialties. Call 760-634-2335.

Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp District San Diego presents its next “Drink Yourself Blind” bagged wine tasting Fri. Feb. 26 form 4 to 8:30pm. Eight wines to try. Guess right and win prizes. Details at 619-236-0005.

A ZD Napa Valley Wine Tasting is planned for 21 Oceanfront Restaurant in Newport Beach Fri Feb. 26 from 6:30 to 10pm . Four course dinner with perfectly paired wines for $95. Learn more at 949-673-2100.

The Hilton Anaheim hosts a Chalk Hill Wine Dinner Fri. Feb. 26 at 6pm for $75. pp. Main entrée is Herb Roasted Lamb with Salsa Verde and Black Truffles, matching up with the ’06 Estate Cabernet. Call for RSVP’s at 714-740-4412.

Sake, and Teriyaki----This Super Bowl Sunday

We don't usually cover fast-food places, but Surf Brothers Teriyaki is one of the exceptions. Great teriyaki sauce dazzles their chicken and steak-ka-bobs that are fresh and priced right. Why waste the Big Game with boring old Guacamole and Chips? Take a trip to Bev Mo for some Sake, then swing by one of the Surf Brothers six San Diego locations. Tell them you heard about them at Taste of Wine TV. Here's a link to a recent write-up: Surf Brothers Teriyaki News Article

Island Prime Primed for Flavor

by Frank Mangio
It is a rare occasion to witness a family restaurant group with the singular quality and wide divergence that the Cohn Restaurant Group in San Diego exhibits. During the past 25 years David and Leslie Cohn have brought San Diego County an amazing array of prime-flavor dining in their 11 restaurants.

Well-deserved honors have been bestowed upon the Cohn “obsession with hospitality,” from the original Corvette Diner to the upscale steak and seafood operations: 333 Pacific in Oceanside, and Island Prime on Harbor Island in San Diego .

We have raved over the menu and wine list at 333 Pacific as being original and uniquely flavorful, so we jumped at the opportunity to meet the staff and sample the offerings at Island Prime.

Deborah Scott is the Executive Chef, a top shelf talent with a sense of the “wow” factor. Her resume is impressive, but it’s in the food that she sets the bar high with flavor that can’t be beat.

I would recommend starting with the crab-stuffed artichoke, then the baby beets salad with walnuts and goat cheese. You have to order the Island Prime Filet Trio if you’re a beef lover like I am.

Wine Director and Island Prime Manager Maurice DiMarino shows his wine cellar and his Italian favorites.

Toppings are different on each and include: gorgonzola, wild mushrooms and blue crab. Three different culinary experiences in one entrée…brilliant! Side options include: truffled-creamed corn, green beans, wild mushrooms and lots more. The wine list and operations are run by Maurice DiMarino who is always on the floor, making certain that the Cohn’s obsession with hospitality is in full bloom. For more see islandprime.com or dinecrg.com.

Wine Bytes
West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad and Executive Chef Eugenio Martignago showcase Penfolds Wines of Australia in a wine and dinner event Mon. Feb. 22 starting at 6:30pm . Delicious food will match up with wines like Riesling, Chardonnay, Red Blends and Port. Rack of Australian Lamb is the main entrée of this 4 course dinner. $75. ea. RSVP at 760-930-9100.

La Costa Wine Company in Carlsbad has a limited-space Justin Tasting on Fri. Feb. 26 from 5 to 8pm . This will sell out fast, as Justin from Paso Robles is well known around the wine world. New releases only. $30. pp. RSVP at 760-431-8455.

The 3rd Corner in Encinitas hosts an Ojai Wine Dinner on Tues. Feb. 16 at 6pm. Four course dinner with 4 different wines from Riesling to a lovely Viognier Dessert wine. $65. charge. Reserve at 760-942-2104.

The Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour is Tuesday February 23 to Thursday February 25. Eleven events are being staged from Cardiff to Pont Loma in a regional showcase of over 40 winemakers. www.FastForwardEvents.com

The Argyle Steakhouse at the Four Seasons in the Aviara Carlsbad now has a Happy Hour. It starts at 4pm with 4.00 drinks, 5pm has $5. drinks and 6pm has $6. drinks. Details at 760-603-3773.